Projectile



Dec. 19, 1944. s. A. MOORE 2.365577 PROJECTILE Filed Aug. 26, 1945 2Sheets-Sheet l 'myaz/w 76 ATI'D R N EYB Dec; 19, 1944. s A, MOORE2,365,577

PROJEGTILE Filed Aug. 26, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

A'ITDRN EYS Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE2,365,577 PROJECTILE Stephen A. Moore, Roanoke, Va.

Application August 26, 1943, Serial No. 500,122

2 Claims.

My invention relates to projectiles fired from cannon and similar piecesof ordnance, and has among its objects and advantages the provision ofan improved glider projectile so designed as to cause the projectile ttravel an increased distance as it reaches the descending stretch of thetrajectory.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a projectile in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top view with a portion broken away for the purpose ofillustration.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of one wing vane.

Figure 4 is an edge View. A

Figure 5 is a face View 'of the opposite side thereof.

Figure 6 is a face view of another wing vane,

Figure 7 is an edge View.

Figure 8 is a reversed face view.

Figure 9 is a sectional detail view illustrating a pivotal mount for thevanes of one wing.

Figure 10 is a face view of a vane locking cap.

Figure 11 is a sectional detail view illustrating a vane stop, and

Figure 12 is a top view partly in section of a projectile provided withthe distance increasing Wings unfolded to carry the projectile anincreased distance beyond ordinary projectiles In the embodiment of theinvention selected for illustration, I make use of a projectile lprovided with a diametrically opposed and longitudinal recesses [2extending throughout the greater length of the projectile and openingthrough its circumferential face. A foldable wing I4 is mounted in eachrecess l 2. Each wing comprises a leading and top vane 16 and aplurality of successively underlying vanes I 8. All the vanes aresimilar in size and contour and converge uniformly toward theprojectile. Normally the vanes I6 and [8 in each wing lie face to faceand Wholly inside their respective recess I 2. The vanes in the twowings I4 are pivotally mounted on pins 20. Figures 3, 4 and illustrateone of the vanes l8, this vane being provided with an eye head 22provided with formations 24 on opposite sides thereof cooperating withthe same formations on adjacent eye heads to provide a limited lostmotion relationship between the vanes. This motion is such that thevanes may be pivoted relatively to each other for face to face nestinginside the recess, but the vanes are pivoted relatively to one anotherin opposite direction to spread in the manner of Figure 12, with thevanes overlapping slightly so as to provide an unbroken wing surface.

One of the vanes I6 is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8, this vanehaving an eye head 26 provided with a formation 28 coacting with oneformation 24 on one of the vanes l8 to provide a lost motion connectionso that the vane l6 has the same lost motion movement with respect toone of the vanes l8 as do the vanes l8 relatively to one another. An eyepin 30 is attached to the eye head 26.

Figure 9 illustrates the pivotal mount for one of the wings M. The twowings are identical in construction and operation. The pin 20 is looselyreceivable in the eye heads 22 and 26, which heads lie in face to faceengagement. The bottom vane l8 lies on the wall face 32 of the recessl2. Four equally spaced openings 34 are provided in the eye head 26 forthe reception of latch pins 36 attached to a latch cap 38 slidablymounted on the pin 20 but restrained from relative rotation by reason ofa key 40 receivable in a groove 42 in the latch cap. These pins latchthe eye head 26 against rotation when the vanes l6 and I 8 are foldedinside their recess I2, the formations 24 and 28 coacting so as torestrain all the vanes l6 and I8 from outward pivotal movement whenlying in their recess l2 and with the pins 36 projected through theopenings 34 in the eye head 26.

The pin 20 is threaded into the wall 32 of the recess, as at 44 and thepin is provided with a longitudinal bore 46 for a fuse 48 extendingrearwardly of the projectile through an opening 50 for projection beyondits rear end 52 to be ignited when the projectile is fired.

In Figures 2 and 12 a tension spring 53 has one end connected with theeye bolt 30 and its other end secured to an anchor 54 attached to theprojectile III. This spring is of sufi'icient tension to pivot all thevanes l6 and I8 associated therewith to their unfolded position when thelatch cap 38 is elevated suificiently far to pull the pins 36 clear ofthe eye head 26. When the latch cap 38 is lifted oif the eye head 26,the spring 53 imparts a rapid and forcible pivotal movement to the vaneIS, with the result that the formations 24 and 28 cause the vanes l6 andIt to fan outwardly to the wing formation of Figure 12, the bottom vane[8 being restrained from pivotal movement outside the recess |2 byreason of a lug 56 engageable with a stop 58 on the projectile.

Means for lifting the latch cap 38 to release the vanes, comprises anannular groove 60 in the face of the latch cap 38 ngaging the eye head26, which groove is filled with an explosive material 62 to be ignitedby the burning fuse 48. As the material 62 explodes, the latch cap 38 islifted off the eye head 26 to release the latter. The latch cap 38 isyieldingly biased against the eye head 26 by a compression spring 64, sothat the eye head 26 will become latched to the latch cap 38 as thevane- 16 is pivoted to its full open position in substantially rightangular relation to the longitudinal axis of the projectile. An opening66 is provided in the side of'the pin 20 for reception of the fuse 48 tolead the latter into the explosive 62.

The recesses [2 lie in a horizontal plane positioned above thelongitudinal axis of the projectile so as to more effectively balancethe latter when the wings are in their spread formations. Each wingstructure is provided. with a fuse, and

the two fuses are timed through the length thereof to release the vanesonly after the projectile,

has traveled a predetermined distance, with the wings preferably openingas the projectile is at the highest point of its trajectory. Since thevanes are arranged in overlapping relationship and underlie one anotherrearwardly of the forward edges of their respective wings, the two wingsare characterized by bottom faces inclining rearwardly toward the axisof th projectile so as to impart a lifting, action to the projectile,

' thereby increasing the distance traveled by the projectile during thedeclining stretch of its. trajectory.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

l. The combination of a projectile body having recesses therein,foldable wings normally housed in said recesses, means for latching saidwings in folded positions inside said recesses and in unfolded positionsoutside the recesses and the contour of the projectile, explosive meansfor actuating said first mentioned means to release the wings when intheir folded positions, and means for projecting the wings to theirunfolded positions.

2. The invention described in claim 1 wherein said wings each comprisesa plurality of overlapping vanes, a pivot pin for each set of vanes,

"coacting formations on the vanes in each set to limit the relativepivotal movement therebetween, in which said last mentioned meanscomprise springs respectively attached to one vane in each wingl saidonev vane in each, wing-being= provided with openings, aid firstmentioned means including caps; slidably mounted on the respective pinshaving lugs receivable in. the openings in the said one vane of thatpin, and in which said explosive means include explosive containingchambers lo cated between said caps and the said one of said vanes andfuses leading into said explosive container chambers and through boresin the projectile to a position at the rear thereof.

, STEPHEN A. MOORE.

